‘Iron Man 3’ coming to Wilmington, expected to pump $80M into local economy

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The rumors are true. Tony stark and the third installment of the “Iron Man” movie franchise will fly into Wilmington.

The film is expected to bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to the local economy.

“‘Iron Man 3’ will be made here in Wilmington, NC,” Gov. Bev Perdue said in making the official announcement. “How about that?”

Producers of “Iron Man 3” decided to move from one end of I-40 to the other. Gov. Perdue says with the film will come many economic advantages to the Cape Fear.

“This is a great day for North Carolina,” she said. “Five-hundred-fifty jobs, all the other sub-jobs, the construction jobs, that’s what it’s all about to us here locally. But around the country and around the world it’s about North Carolina’s brand. Today we are Hollywood East, and it starts right here in Wilmington.”

The movie will be the largest production to ever shoot in North Carolina. State officials are excited about the announcement.

“It’s going to be a film that’s going to bring a budget to North Carolina of about $300 million, but when it’s filmed in the studios it’s going to gross over $2 billion are the projections. It’s going to put North Carolina in the forefront of the movie industry,” Rep. Danny McComas (R-19th District) said.

Screen Gems officials say Marvel chose the Port City because of the scope and capabilities of the studio’s lot. North Carolina’s 25 percent tax incentive for films also helped the cause.

“We’ve had a 185 percent increase in films this past calendar year,” Gov. Perdue said. “We are doing something right all over North Carolina. We’ve got ‘Hunger Games,’ we’ve got five other films being shot in different parts of the state. We have changed the paradigm for North Carolina. Again the film tax credit made a real difference.”

Although this film will not bring permanent jobs, it is expected to bring around $80 million to the local economy.

The governor says with “Iron Man 3” coming to town more movies could find their way to southeastern North Carolina in the future possibly creating more jobs.

Shooting will start next year. “Iron Man 3” is scheduled to hit theaters in May 2013.